diff --git a/kafka_consumer.c b/kafka_consumer.c
index f00a20d5..2bf25a0a 100644
--- a/kafka_consumer.c
+++ b/kafka_consumer.c
@@ -485,6 +485,7 @@ PHP_METHOD(RdKafka_KafkaConsumer, close)
     }
 
     rd_kafka_consumer_close(intern->rk);
+    rd_kafka_destroy(intern->rk);
     intern->rk = NULL;
 }
 /* }}} */